Treatment of severe postpartum hemorrhage by rectally administered gemeprost pessaries

Objective. To assess the efficacy of rectally administered gemeprost pessaries in the treatment of severe postpartum hemorrhage. Design. Retrospective analysis of a twelve month period in which all patients having postpartum hemorrhage treated with rectal gemeprost were analyzed. Setting. Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia. Population. Fourteen women with established postpartum hemorrhage not responding to oxytocine and ergometrine regimens, or not responsive to oxytocine and having contsaindications to ergometrine. Main outcome measures. Per vaginum bleeding with continued postpartum hemorrhage; adverse patient reactions to gemeprost; need for operative intervention. Results. All patients who were treated with rectally administered gemeprost pessaries had cessation of bleeding per vaginum. There were no adverse side effects noted from the medication and no patient required surgical treatment. Conclusions. Rectally administered gemeprost administered pessaries appear to be safe and effective method of treating severe postpartum hemorrhage in those patients in whom the standard oxytocic regimens fail. This form of treatment may avoid the need for parenteral prostaglandins or surgical intervention.